Ventriloquist doll

ABSTRACT

A ventriloquist doll in which a neck socket on the torso receives a generally hemispherical head support carrying a hollow head provided with a movable member such as a jaw resiliently biased to one position and adapted to be moved to another position by a lever pivotally carried by the support and having a trigger portion associated with a handle extending downwardly from the head support into the torso and accessible through an opening in the back of the torso and in which a resilient element connected between the handle and the torso holds the assembly of the head and its support in position while permitting both turning and inclination of the head relative to the torso by manipulation of the handle and operation of the jaw by actuation of the lever trigger portion.

United States Patent Kosicki et al.

[ Aug. 26, 1975 Primary ExaminerLouis G. Mancene Assistant ExaminerRobert F. Cutting Attorney, Agent, or Firm-Shenier & OConnor [57] ABSTRACT A ventriloquist doll in which a neck socket on the torso receives a generally hemispherical head support carrying a hollow head provided with a movable member such as a jaw resiliently biased to one position and adapted to be moved to another position by a lever pivotally carried by the support and having a trigger portion associated with a handle extending downwardly from the head support into the torso and accessible through an opening in the back of the torso and in which a resilient element connected between the handle and the torso holds the assembly of the head and its support in position while permitting both turning and inclination of the head relative to the torso by manipulation of the handle and operation of the jaw by actuation of the lever trigger portion.

16 Claims, 5 Drawing Figures PATENTED AUG 2 6 I975 SHIT 2 OF 3 CUM VENTRILOQUTST DOLL BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION There are known in the prior art ventriloquist dolls having jaws which are movable by manual actuation of an element such as a draw-string or the like accessible to the operator. While these ventriloquist dolls of the prior art will operate to simulate opening and closing of the dolls mouth, they are relatively unsophisticated and are somewhat difficult to operate. They do not per mit of relatively realistic movements of the head with relation to the torso. In addition, the heads generally are permitted to flop loosely when the doll is not in use so that they do not make an attractive display at a location, for example, at which the dolls are sold.

We have invented a ventriloquist doll which is an improvement over ventriloquist dolls of the prior art. Our doll is relatively easy to operate. It provides a desirable trigger operation. Our doll permits of both turning movement and inclination of the dolls head relative to its body in response to operation of a handle. Our ventriloquist doll holds its head erect on the torso when not in use. It is relatively simple in construction for the result achieved thereby.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION One object of our invention is to provide a ventriloquist doll which is relatively easy to operate.

Another object of our invention is to provide a ventriloquist doll which can be actuated in response to a trigger.

A further object of our invention is to provide a ventriloquist doll which permits both turning and tilting of the dolls head in response to manipulation of a handle.

Still another object of our invention is to provide a ventriloquist doll the head of which is held erect when the doll is not in use.

Other and further objects of our invention will appear from the following description.

In general our invention contemplates the provision of a ventriloquist doll in which the head is supported by a hemispherical member positioned in a neck socket on the dolls torso and in which a movable member such as the dolls jaw is biased to one position and is adapted to be moved to another position in response to actuation of a lever pivotally supported on the hemispherical member and having a trigger portion associated with a handle extending downwardly from the head support into the torso and accessible through an opening in the back of the torso to permit both turning and tilting movement of the head in response to manipulation of the handle as well as movement of the jaw in response to operation of the trigger portion.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS In the accompanying drawings which form part of the instant specification and which are to be read in conjunction therewith and in which like reference numerals are used to indicate like parts in the various view:

FIG. 1 is a sectional view of our ventriloquist doll with its head turned to one side.

FIG. 2 is a fragmentary sectional view of the doll shown in FIG. 1 taken along the line 2-2 of FIG. 1 and drawn on an enlarged scale.

FIG. 3 is a fragmentary sectional view of our ventriloquist doll taken along the line 33 of FIG. 1 and drawn on an enlarged scale.

FIG. 4 is a fragmentary sectional view of an alternate embodiment of our ventriloquist doll.

FIG. 5 is a fragmentary sectional view of our ventriloquist doll taken along the line 55 of FIG. 4 and drawn on an enlarged scale.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS Referring now to the drawings, our ventriloquist doll, indicated generally by the reference character 10, includes a torso 12 formed of any suitable relatively rigid synthetic resin. A pair of arms 14 and 16 which may, for example, be made from tubes of fabric filled with a suitable stuffing carry hands 18 and 20 made from a relatively softer synthetic resin than that of which the torso is formed. Each arm is attached to the torso 12 by a connector 22 formed of synthetic sheet material and provided with barbed bifurcations 24 and 26. Each connector 22 is secured to the associated arm 14 or 16 by any suitable means such, for example, as by stitching. The connector associated with arm 14 is inserted into a slot 28 at one side of the body while the connector 22 associated with the other arm 16 is inserted in a slot 30 in the other side of the torso 12.

Each of the legs 32 and 34, which may be made from stuffed fabric, is secured to a connector 36 by means such as stitching. Each connector 36 is formed of synthetic resin sheet material and is provided with barbed bifurcations 38 and 40. The connector 36 of leg 32 is inserted into a slot 42 in the bottom of the torso while the connector 36 associated with leg 34 is inserted into a slot 44 in the bottom of the torso.

We form the upper end of the torso 12 with a neck socket 46 of generally spherical configuration. An opening 48 in the back of the torso affords access to the interior of the torso for a reason to be described hereinbelow.

Our doll includes a head 50 having a jaw opening provided with a pair of inwardly directed sides 52 and 54 formed with pivot pin-receiving sockets 56 and 58. The jaw 60 of our doll is formed with a pair of pivot pins 62 and 64 adapted to be received in sockets 56 and 58 to permit the jaw to move between an open position and a closed position. The head and jaw may be made from any suitable synthetic resin. Preferably the walls 52 and 54 have sufficient resilience to permit the jaw to be snapped into place. A wire retainer 66 is secured to the back of the jaw for a reason to be described hereinbelow.

We provide our ventriloquist doll with a head support and handle forming member indicated generally by the reference character 68. Operator 68 is formed with an upper hemispherical portion 70 adapted to be received in the socket 46. An inwardly directed flange 72 at the top of the support 70 receives the neck portion of head 50 which may be secured to the flange by any suitable cement. A pin 76 within support 70 receives one end of a rubber band or the like 78, the other end of which is received by the wire retainer 66. The rubber band 78 normally urges the jaw 60 to a closed position.

We form the operator 68 with a generally cylindrical handle 80 extending downwardly from the support 70 into the torso and accessible through the opening 48. The operating assembly 68 includes an actuator lever 82 formed with a reinforcing flange 84 and pivotally supported on a pivot pin 86 which rides in bosses 88 and 90 formed in the inside of the support 70. One end 92 of the lever 82 is bent so as to engage an extension 94 on the rear wall of the jaw 60. The other end of the handle 82 extends outwardly through a trigger opening 98 in the handle 80 and is provided with a trigger plate 96.

From the structure just described, it will be seen that the rubber band 78 urges the jaw 60 to a closed position. At the same time, extension 94 engages the end 92 of lever 82 to move the lever to a position at which flange 84 engages the inner surface of handle 80 and the trigger plate 96 protrudes from the slot 98. When the trigger plate is operated lever 82 pivots to cause end 92 to engage extension 94 to pivot jaw 60 against the action of band 78 to an open position.

We provide our assembly with a safety spring 100 which holds the assembly of the head 50 and operator 68 in position with the head erect while preventing accidental removal of the assembly from the torso. A hook 102 at one end of the spring 100 engages a hook 104 formed at the lower end of the handle 80. A hook 106 on the other end of spring 100 engages a hook 108 carried by a plug 110. We so construct the plug 110 and hook 108 as to permit the hook to be snapped into an opening 112 in the bottom of the torso. While thus being retained in position on the torso, the plug is relatively free to rotate to prevent damage to the parts upon repeated turning of the head 50.

Spring 100 is so constructed as normally to tend to move hooks 102 and 106 closer together. If an attempt is made to pull the head off the torso, ultimately interengageable portions 114 and 116 of the spring engage to prevent complete removal of the head.

In use of our ventriloquist doll, the operator inserts his hand through opening 48 and grasps the handle 80. When this is done, trigger 96 is easily actuated by the forefinger, for example, to move the jaw 60 between its open and closed positions. At the same time, the handle can be twisted to cause the head to turn. Moreover, the handle can be pushed or pulled to turn support 70 in socket 46 to incline the dolls head. Moreover, when the doll is not in use, spring 100 holds the head 50 erect. No damage to theparts will occur upon repeated turnings of the head 50 since the plug 110 is free to rotate.

While we have shown in FIGS. 1 to 3 a form of our ventriloquist doll in which the lever 82 is adapted to actuate the dolls jaw, it will readily be understood that it might be arranged to actuate another movable element such as the eyes or the eyebrows. Moreover, more than one lever may be provided to operate more than one movable element.

Referring now to FIGS. 4 and 5, in an alternate embodiment of our ventriloquist doll the head support member 70 is provided with a handle 120 carrying a shaft 122 which supports lever 82 in a manner similar to that of the shaft 86 in FIG. 1. Handle 120 is provided with an opening or slot 124 through which the trigger end of handle 82 extends.

The head 50 of the form of our doll illustrated in FIGS. 4 and is provided with an eye socket 126 which receives an eye 128 visible through an opening in the head 50. Pivots 130, one of which is shown in FIG. 4 support the eye 128 for pivotal movement between an open position and a closed position. A weight 132 on the eye 128 normally urges the eye 128 to open position. A rod 134 is supported on socket 126 for sliding movement is pivotally connected to eye 128 at a location in front of and below the axis of pivots 160 so that, when the rod is pulled to the right as viewed in FIG. 4 the eye 128 is pivoted to closed position.

The form of our doll shown in FIGS. 4 and 5 includes a second lever 136 pivotally supported on shaft 122. The lower or trigger end of lever 136 extends outwardly through a slot in the rear portion of the handle 120. We pivotally connect the upper end of lever 136 to rod 134 in such a way that, when trigger 138 is pushed to pivot the lever rod 134 is pulled to move eye 128 to the closed position. When the trigger 138 is released weight 132 restores the lever to its initial position. If necessary or desirable we provide a return spring to assist weight 132 in restoring the parts to the eye open position.

It will be seen that the form of our doll shown in FIGS. 4 and 5 simulates both talking and winking. We might provide a similar arrangement to operate both eyes together, to operate the eyes individually or to raise the eyebrows. It will readily be appreciated that each of the jaw 60 and the eye 128 is an element which is visible to the observer and which is movable between two positions to simulate a live action. That is, movement of the jaw 60 between two positions simulates talking to the observer, while movement of the eye 128 between its two positions simulates opening and closing of the eye.

It will be seen that we have accomplished the objects of our invention. We have provided a ventriloquist doll which is relatively easy to operate. It permits of both turning movement and inclination of the dolls head in response to manipulation of a handle. It is so constructed that repeated turnings of the dolls head will not damage the parts. Our doll is so constructed that its head is held erect when the doll is not in use.

It will be understood that certain features and subcombinations are of utility and may be employed without reference to other features and subcombinations. This is contemplated by and is within the scope of our claims. It is further obvious that various changes may be made in details within the scope of our claims without departing from the spirit of our invention. It is, therefore, to be understood that our invention is not to be limited to the specific details shown and described.

Having thus described our invention, what we claim 1. A doll assembly including in combination a torso having a vertical axis, means forming a generally hemispherical socket at the upper end of said torso, said socket opening outwardly and having an opening in the bottom thereof, a head, a generally hemispherical head support carried by said head and adapted to be received in said socket over said opening, a handle extending downwardly into said body from the portion of said head support over said opening, the relative dimensions of said handle and said opening being such as to permit limited tilting movement of said head with respect to said axis as well as rotary movement of said head around said axis, and resilient means connected between said handle and said torso for urging said head to an erect position with reference to said axis, said torso formed with an opening permitting access to said handle for manipulation of said head.

2. A doll assembly as in claim 1 including means for limiting the extension of said resilient member.

3. A doll assembly as in claim 1 in which said resilient means is a spring and in which said extension limiting means comprises interengageable parts of said spring, said spring tension urging said parts into engagement.

4. A doll assembly as in claim 1 including a visible element, means mounting said element on said head for movement between a first position and a second position to simulate a live action, means for biasing said element to one of said positions, a manually operable member adapted to be actuated to move said element to the other of said positions, and means mounting said member on said head support for movement therewith.

5. A doll assembly as in claim 4 in which said manually operable member is a lever, one end of said lever extending downwardly into said torso, said torso opening permitting access to said one end of said lever.

6. A doll assembly as in claim 5 said handle receives the lower end of said lever, said lower end formed with a trigger portion normally protruding from said handle under the influence of said element biasing means.

7. A doll assembly as in claim 6 in which said element is a jaw mounted for pivotal movement on said head, said jaw and the other end of said lever comprising interengageable elements urged into engagement by said element biasing means.

8. A doll assembly as in claim 6 in which said element is an eye mounted for pivotal movement on said head, said manually operable means including means connecting the other end of said lever to said eye.

9. A doll assembly including in combination, a hollow torso, a hollow head, means including a socket on said torso and a head support carrying said head and disposed in said socket for mounting said head on said torso for rotary movement and for limited tilting movement, a handle extending into said torso from said head support, resilient means connected between said handle and said torso for biasing said head to an erect position, said torso being formed with an opening permitting access to said handle for manipulation of said head, a visible element, means mounting said visible element on said head for movement between a first position and a second position to simulate a live action, means for biasing said element to one of said positions, a lever formed with trigger portion at one end thereof, means mounting said lever for limited pivotal movement on said support with said one end disposed in said handle, and means including said element and the other end of said lever for causing said trigger portion normally to protrude from said support under the action of said element biasing means.

10. A doll assembly as in claim 9 in which said head biasing means comprises a tension spring and means for limiting the extension of said spring.

11. A doll assembly as in claim 9 in which said head biasing means connecting means comprises a plug rotatably supported in said torso.

12. A doll assembly as in claim 9 in which said visible element is a jaw mounted for pivotal movement on said head and in which said interengageable means comprise portions of said jaw and the other end of said lever.

13. A doll assembly as in claim 9 in which said socket and said head support are generally hemispherical.

14. A doll assembly including in combination, a torso, a head, means mounting said head on said torso, a first visible element, means mounting said first element on said head between a first position and a second position to simulate a first live action, means for biasing said first element to one of said positions, means including a first lever formed with a trigger portion adapted to be actuated to move said first element to its other position, a second visible element, means mounting said second element on said head for movement between a first position and a second position to simulate another live action, means for biasing said second element to one of its positions, and means including a second lever formed with a trigger portion adapted to be actuated to move said second element to its other position.

15. A doll assembly as in claim 14 in which said first visible element is a jaw and in which said second visible element is an eye.

16. A doll assembly including in combination, a torso, a head, means mounting said head on said torso, a visible element, means mounting said element on said head for movement between a first position and a second position to simulate a live action, a lever formed with a trigger portion, means mounting said lever on said head mounting means for movement between limit positions, one end of said lever and a portion of said element adapted to move into and out of engagement, and means for biasing said element to its first position to move said element portion and said lever end into engagement and to move said lever to one of its limit positions, said torso being provided with an opening for access to said lever trigger portion to permit said trigger to be actuated to move said lever to its other limit position to move said element to its second position against the action of said biasing means. 

1. A doll assembly including in combination a torso having a vertical axis, means forming a generally hemispherical socket at the upper end of said torso, said socket opening outwardly and having an opening in the bottom thereof, a head, a generally hemispherical head support carried by said head and adapted to be received in said socket over said opening, a handle extending downwardly into said body from the portion of said head support over said opening, the relative dimensions of said handle and said opening being such as to permit limited tilting movement of said head with respect to said axis as well as rotary movement of said head around said axis, and resilient means connected between said handle and said torso for urging said head to an erect position with reference to said axis, said torso formed with an opening permitting access to said handle for manipulation of said head.
 2. A doll assembly as in claim 1 including means for limiting the extension of said resilient member.
 3. A doll assembly as in claim 1 in which said resilient means is a spring and in which said extension limiting means comprises interengageable parts of said spring, said spring tension urging said parts into engagement.
 4. A doll assembly as in claim 1 including a visible element, means mounting said element on said head for movement between a first position and a second position to simulate a live action, means for biasing said element to one of said positions, a manually operable member adapted to be actuated to move said element to the other of said positions, and means mounting said member on said head support for movement therewith.
 5. A doll assembly as in claim 4 in which said manually operable member is a lever, one end of said lever extending downwardly into said torso, said torso opening permitting access to said one end of said lever.
 6. A doll assembly as in claim 5 said handle receives the lower end of said lever, said lower end formed with a trigger portion normally protruding from said handle under the influence of said element biasing means.
 7. A doll assembly as in claim 6 in which said element is a jaw mounted for pivotal movement on said head, said jaw and the other end of said lever comprising interengageablE elements urged into engagement by said element biasing means.
 8. A doll assembly as in claim 6 in which said element is an eye mounted for pivotal movement on said head, said manually operable means including means connecting the other end of said lever to said eye.
 9. A doll assembly including in combination, a hollow torso, a hollow head, means including a socket on said torso and a head support carrying said head and disposed in said socket for mounting said head on said torso for rotary movement and for limited tilting movement, a handle extending into said torso from said head support, resilient means connected between said handle and said torso for biasing said head to an erect position, said torso being formed with an opening permitting access to said handle for manipulation of said head, a visible element, means mounting said visible element on said head for movement between a first position and a second position to simulate a live action, means for biasing said element to one of said positions, a lever formed with trigger portion at one end thereof, means mounting said lever for limited pivotal movement on said support with said one end disposed in said handle, and means including said element and the other end of said lever for causing said trigger portion normally to protrude from said support under the action of said element biasing means.
 10. A doll assembly as in claim 9 in which said head biasing means comprises a tension spring and means for limiting the extension of said spring.
 11. A doll assembly as in claim 9 in which said head biasing means connecting means comprises a plug rotatably supported in said torso.
 12. A doll assembly as in claim 9 in which said visible element is a jaw mounted for pivotal movement on said head and in which said interengageable means comprise portions of said jaw and the other end of said lever.
 13. A doll assembly as in claim 9 in which said socket and said head support are generally hemispherical.
 14. A doll assembly including in combination, a torso, a head, means mounting said head on said torso, a first visible element, means mounting said first element on said head between a first position and a second position to simulate a first live action, means for biasing said first element to one of said positions, means including a first lever formed with a trigger portion adapted to be actuated to move said first element to its other position, a second visible element, means mounting said second element on said head for movement between a first position and a second position to simulate another live action, means for biasing said second element to one of its positions, and means including a second lever formed with a trigger portion adapted to be actuated to move said second element to its other position.
 15. A doll assembly as in claim 14 in which said first visible element is a jaw and in which said second visible element is an eye.
 16. A doll assembly including in combination, a torso, a head, means mounting said head on said torso, a visible element, means mounting said element on said head for movement between a first position and a second position to simulate a live action, a lever formed with a trigger portion, means mounting said lever on said head mounting means for movement between limit positions, one end of said lever and a portion of said element adapted to move into and out of engagement, and means for biasing said element to its first position to move said element portion and said lever end into engagement and to move said lever to one of its limit positions, said torso being provided with an opening for access to said lever trigger portion to permit said trigger to be actuated to move said lever to its other limit position to move said element to its second position against the action of said biasing means. 